After cleaning himself from the blood that has been plastered over his mouth and hand, Luke dried his hands with the hand dryer. After settling with it, Luke began to summon the system.
<Level: 10>
<EXP: 1200/1600>
<STR: 36>
<DEX: 37>
<INT: 31>
<VIT: 35>
<Stat Points: 0>
<HP: 40/155>
<Stamina: 70/150>
<FP: 90/130>
<User Status: Injured>
<Examine>
<Rank: E>
<AP: 100/400>
<Control>
<Rank C>
<AP: 0/600>
<Time Manipulation>
- Time Acceleration (Rank 9)
<AP: 0/1000>
<AP available: 520>
<Notifications (2)>
<You've defeated Raigor>
<You've been rewarded by 500 EXP and 50 AP>
<You've been bestowed by new skill>
<Embodiment of Time>
'Is this given by that system guy?' Luke mused as he starts pressed further information.
<Embodiment of Time>
<Rank: 9>
<Assimilate the user body to accommodate Time Force more easily. Progress automatically, along with user advancement.>
<AP: 0 AP required>
"Time Force," Luke mumbled under his breath, while his mind began connecting the dots between the system guy statement that at the moment he shouldn't exert Time Manipulation more often due to the risk it gave to his body.
'Maybe Time Force, is that system guy refer to.' Luke concluded inwardly.
'Thankfully, that guy warned me in advance, or else I don't know what'll happen to my body.' Luke thought gratefully and began walked out from the public toilet.
Arriving at the lounge, all pairs of eyes instantly turned to him. Luke didn't know how to greet them, so he simply nods his head in their direction. Upon doing that, Luke sat down on the empty seat and took out his phone.
He didn't immediately turn on the phone and merely stare at the blank screen of his phone. He was so immersed in his daydreaming that he didn't notice his phone screen already turned on, and a notification message kept popping out. Only after someone from the side nudged him with the elbow that Luke snapped out from his thought.
Turned his head sideways, Luke glanced at the person questioningly. The man simply replied while pointing at Luke's phone, "Your phone."
"Oh, thank you." Thanked the man, Luke quickly checked the message.
As usual, the message was containing a congratulatory message from Kuvar and Senior Amon. Only Aisyl's message was the different one. He didn't bother to congratulate him and just asked about his current condition.
'It would be perfect if he was a girl' That thought suddenly crossed on Luke's mind.
'Bleh! What the fuck am I thinking! if he knew it, I would be doomed!' Luke rapidly shook his head and brush that thought far, far away.
"I just felt a bit of nausea due to the tremor force," Luke explained his condition to Aisyl.
In a few seconds, a reply came, "Sigh...That's great then. But why do I had a feeling you hide something from me?"
Eh? He can tell? Luke's injuries this time was getting worse due to the after-effect he suffered from his own ability. So, Luke's injuries were basically mostly caused by the Time Manipulation itself, not the Tremor Force.
"Truthfully, I'm now experiencing the drawback of my own ability." Answered Luke bluntly.
"Where are you now?"
"Still in the lounge, why?" Luke asked confusedly.
"Then, what are you waiting for? Go see a doctor, idiot!" Aisyl typed with a tone of furious. Luke could even imagine his angry face. So, without hesitation, he replied, "Yes, mom!"
...
"You only need to eat this pill twice a day, and tomorrow your nausea feeling will be gone entirely." A doctor said while placing three pills into Luke's palm.
Luke nodded his head and asked another question, "Are you sure my wound isn't severe?"
"How many times I need to reassure you that there's nothing wrong with your body." The doctor said while shaking her head, "Anyway, I'm planned to go check another patient. Settle yourself comfortably here."
Watching the doctor walked away. Luke switched on his phone and started typing a message, "The doctor said my condition is fine and only needed to consume a couple of medicine."
Within a minute, came a reply from Aisyl, "Hurry up to the stadium then. Conserving strength is important, but knowing your opponent's ability is also significant for your next battle."
Although Luke could simply use "examine" on his opponent to know its ability, knowing on its own would bring him a somewhat satisfying feeling. So, Luke replied, "On my way!"
...
Arriving at the stadium seats where many people occasionally cheering like a crazy person, Luke messaged, "Where are you?"
"Just follow that ball of light."
'Ball of Light?' Luke mused confusingly. Just as he was about to ask what does it mean, a somewhat palm-sized glittering ball appeared directly in front of his eyes. He tried to touch it, but the ball evaded it immediately and knocked Luke's forehead as if complaining, "Don't try to touch me and follow me obediently."
Rubbing his slightly hottish forehead, Luke began followed the tiny ball. After getting escorted by the tiny ball for a minute, Luke finally spotted Aisyl. Taking a big stride, he greeted him, "Hi, have you waited long?"
As he spoke, Luke's eyes darted around, trying to find an empty seat. Alas, no empty seat entered his sight.
"Yes, that why you should compensate me with a snack later," Aisyl playfully replied and tilted his head confusingly, "What are you searching for?"
"Seat, but it seems all of it was occupied already."
"Well, that's bad." Aisyl scratched his forehead, and suddenly an idea lightens upon his mind. With a smirk, Aisyl turned to Caitlyn, who seated beside him and currently eyed Luke with scrutinizing eyes, "Caty~"
Caitlyn's attention immediately diverted to Aisyl. With a wary expression, "What are you up to? With such a tone, you must be wanted me to doing something!"
Letting out a sheepish laugh, Aisyl smiled playfully, "Hehe, you really know me well! Can you ask the guy beside you to move from his seat and let my friend here sit there?"
"Tch, you're the real definition of the ditching of a friend for a lover," Caitlyn whispered to Aisyl ears in which Aisyl's face blushed in embarrassment due to her teasing. Nevertheless, she still did it in the end. She turned her head to the guy beside him and purposely pouted her lips, "Brother, can you give my friend your seat? You also must be know him already. He's the darkhorse, Luke Lewis or what you all call Alex's replica."
The man didn't give a damn about Luke's identity and stood up only because he couldn't resist the girl's charm in front of him. Willingly, he rose up from his seat, "Sure thing, lady."
"Thank you." Caitlyn thanked the man and winked at Aisyl with a proud expression.
Aisyl shook his head and signalled Luke to sit on the empty seat.
Luke nodded his head and promptly sat on it. He then turned to Caitlyn, "Thank you, miss..?"
"Caitlyn, my name is Caitlyn, but you can call me Caty like Aisyl does." Caitlyn beamed a smile as she forwarded her hand.
Luke shook her hand and couldn't help but felt reluctant upon releasing it, "Luke Lewis."
"I know it already," Caitlyn smirked before the announcement regarding the next match sounded within the stadium.
The moment the next participant makes an appearance, Luke said in a surprised tone, "Alex?"
It turns out Alex's turn to play was this time.
With his usual cold face, Alex ascended the stairs confidently. Opposite him was a tall girl with a burly build. Her hands were thick and tan, unlike other girls, which mostly slender white. Standing there, the woman seems enveloped by an aura of fiery.
Both participants didn't look interested in exchanging pleasantries. Thus a silence prevailed in the stadium. Waiting for the referee's announcement, all onlookers couldn't help but feel thrilled and excited.
"Begin!"
The voice was still in mid-air when the fiery girl dashed out from her previous position. Her move was like a tiger pounced at its prey. The ground below her shattered as she burst out. Within a few seconds, she almost reached where Alex standing is.
Nevertheless, Alex wasn't a weakling either. As soon as he witnesses the girl burst power. He created the black ball in a flash. Like a pitcher, he threw it on the girl track.
The fiery girl couldn't brake in time and get pulled in immediately by the gravitational force.
*Bam*
The fiery girl's feet sank on the arena and buried slightly. However, the girl didn't remain stay and continued her advance. Every time she took a step forward, the ground below would be shattered, leaving a deep foot imprint.
Like a hero crawled as its fight with the big boss, the girl slowly but surely approaches Alex. Alex couldn't remain his cold face anymore as the woman gradually closing their distance.
Suddenly, all the onlookers shocked for a moment witnessing Alex closing his eyes. Before they could react, Alex straight away opened both his eyes and placed his palms over the ground.
"Black Hole!"
From the centre of the arena, a black whirlpool slowly formed. Like an abyss gate, the whirlpool sucked all things within dozens of meters. Even the referee was shocked for a moment before retreating quite a distance to avoid being swallow upon the black hole.
The fiery girl who was standing within the affected area, gradually being swallowed. Even so, her face still firm and looks like someone about to erupt. 1ust as everyone thought she would lose, the girl abruptly slammed both her fist into the centre of the black hole.
The whirlpool seems stopped for a moment while a cracks-web began to spread in a blink of an eye.
The crack extended until the end of the black hole, and soon, the black hole crumbled down like shattered glass.
Both Alex and the girl collapsed on their knee upon their clash failed each other attack.
The referee glanced at their condition intesenely before announced, "Round Fifteen. Draw!"